Compare towns
Townsend vs Lyndeborough vs Chichester vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Chichester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Townsend | Lyndeborough | Chichester | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
1,616Lowest |
2,745 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
43±3.3 11% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$109,297±$13kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$409,300±$26k 23% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
$2,055±$275Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Chichester and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
$7,189Highest 130% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±34.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chichester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chichester and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #75 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Chichester School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.